Concrete renovator tool

ABSTRACT

This invention is a concrete renovator tool with a dust guard, swivel bracket and vacuum handle of special design, for attachment to a small (100 mm-125 mm) angle grinder. By the use of the various pieces and interconnecting designs, the concrete renovator tool allows operators to grind ceilings, in particular, while standing on the floor. It provides for a more efficient and faster method of concrete grinding, and can be used by painters, form workers and drywall contractors to preform a variety of different grinding, sanding and plastering tasks. It allows for a dust-free environment and also results in less workplace injuries.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Concrete ceiling grinding is a pretexture and painting preparation that is preformed by painting and formwork companies in the building industry. Prior to plastering, rendering or painting of ceilings, grinding is required to remove protruding concrete lines and all other manner of concrete surface imperfections left behind from stripped formwork panel moulds.

Current work place practices utilised by painting and formwork companies, require a worker, who is equipped with eye goggles and dust mask, to a scale a small ladder or trestle and place a small angle grinder in an upside down position onto the concrete ceiling. This work method requires a worker to operate in a very dangerous and uncomfortable ergonomic manner. It is also very physically tiring to preform, as it involves workers standing on a ladder and holding an angle grinder in both arms above their heads, in most cases for hours at a time. Worker fatigue is exacerbated by the fact that they are also required to continually move and scale ladders, which in many cases are heavy and hard to move as they are of a special safety platform design.

Due to these factors, workers often elect not to use dust extraction, or safety scaffolds (if so provided) as the additional weight of this equipment further handicaps comfortable working operation.

The dust created by this working method also represents a significant inconvenience factor not only to the individuals preforming this very difficult and unpleasant task, but also to the other tradesman working in the near vicinity. This often results in disruption to building schedules when there becomes a need to clear the floor.

Workers using the existing concrete grinding method very commonly experience painful eye and other injuries from the dislodged grit and sand, which travel at great speed and are very abrasive to the eyes. This occurs because the grinder is being operated in close proximity to the worker's face.

Because of the lack of the ability to work from the floor, the grinding of ceilings often takes a significant amount of time to complete and is a significant cost factor for the companies contracted to preform this task.

Brackets for grinders, which are attached to poles, are currently in existence for the grinding of concrete floors. However these brackets have been designed for large angle grinders and do not possess the appropriate size or special design features of the concrete renovator tool bracket, or concrete renovator pole for the grinding of ceilings.

Additionally brackets for sanders are used in the drywall industry for the sanding of drywall ceilings. These sanding tool brackets are attached to poles and are used in a similar upside down orientation to the concrete renovator tool. However, the sanding bracket is not designed for the installation or operational use of a small angle grinder, neither does it have the special dust guard, bracket or handle design combination, required for the purpose of grinding concrete ceilings.

The attachment poles used by these sanding bracket designs is the flat box handle. Employing a brake and moveable head, this pole was designed for connection to a flat box, a plastering tool attachment. This pole is sold commercially by drywall supply businesses and is widely used in the drywall industry, for the purpose of plastering ceilings.

The attachment pole of the concrete renovator tool incorporates the brake and movable head design of the flat box. However the concrete renovator tool handle has included a new and inventive step over the flat box handle design, by the inclusion of dust ports and a safety chain attachment.

This new, useful and inventive step provides the tool with its dust extraction and enhanced workplace safety capabilities.

The concrete renovator handle is also new, useful and inventive by the fact that, in conjunction with its special design combination, it preforms the new and useful task of ceiling grinding in a dustless, safer and more efficient manner.

This inventive step came about as a result of two major problems encountered with the flat box handle design. The first major problem was the weight and drag factor of the long vacuum hose, when secured to the power tool at the upper section of the pole. This hose drag destabilised the working equilibrium and working alignment capabilities of the bracket and caused difficulties in achieving effective working control. The second major problem was the regular dislodgement of the bracket. As the bracket is secured to the flat box handle by only two wing nuts, the vibration of a working machine often caused this bracket to dislodge and land either on the operator or the floor. This caused a serious likelihood of injury or damage.

The invention of the concrete grinding tool addresses these problems as it allows the grinder to be held in an upside down fashion in an extended position from the operator, and from the floor. This concrete grinding ceiling tool utilises a special combination design of a concrete grinder handle, bracket, and dustless guard to facilitate the dustless grinding of ceilings. This reduces the risk of injury and damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the metal dustless safety guard of the concrete renovator tool.

FIG. 2 depicts the swivel concrete renovator tool bracket in a front on view

FIG. 3 displays the safety chain ring and grinder attachment features of the swivel concrete renovator tool bracket

FIG. 4 depicts the concrete grinder swivel guide attachment of the concrete renovator tool.

FIG. 5 depicts the swivel guide attachments, sliding leg sections

FIG. 6 depicts an exploded view of the concrete renovator tool bracket and swivel guide attachment.

FIG. 7 depicts the concrete grinder handle of the concrete renovator tool.

FIG. 8 depicts a close up view of the handle's movable head section and accompanying attachments of the concrete renovator tool.

FIG. 9 depicts a close up view of concrete grinder bracket and head assembly of the concrete renovator tool.

FIG. 10 depicts the complete assembly and exploded view of the concrete renovator tool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the invention will be described in connection with one or more preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the description is not intended to limit the invention to the described embodiments. On the contrary, the description is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included with the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turn now to the drawings in general, and in particular to a first embodiment of this combination. FIG. 1 of the invention, the metal dustless safety guard is attached to an array of grinders, for the use of diamond cup wheels and stones. The metal dustless safety guard begins with 45° angle junction, located on the dorsal/back side of the guard circumference (1) to facilitate the easy push-on attachment of a 25 mm vacuum hose. Within the top circumference of the guard is the attachment strap (2) that facilitates the attachment of the dustless metal guard to the grinder. The metal safety guard is ringed by a wire brush strip (3), which is located on the bottom outer circumference to facilitate the tool's movement over uneven concrete surfaces, and provide effective dust extraction.

Thus usage of the first embodiment apparatus of the invention can be employed in accordance with the following guidelines.

1. Attach dustless guard to grinder by screw-on bracket attachment.

2. Attach hose to the push-on 45% angled junction.

A second embodiment of this invention in FIG. 2 depicts a swivel grinding bracket that is used to attach and guide a grinder in working alignment on uneven concrete ceiling surfaces. Located in a superior, dorsal position on this swivel bracket is the kidney-shaped head of the swivel bracket (4). This kidney-shaped head configuration allows easy access to the power switch of a grinder, when attached to the bracket. Located in a medial/middle position on this kidney shaped head section of the swivel bracket are two screw holes (5) to allow for the firm attachment of the concrete renovator tool handle.

Located in FIG. 3 in a lateral/side position on this kidney shaped head section of the swivel bracket, is a safety chain ring (6) this allows for a short safety chain attachment between the concrete grinder handle and swivel bracket, for the purpose of preventing grinder bracket dislodgment and accidents. The swivel bracket has two extending metal attachment ties (7) located on the ventral/front head section to secure the grinder to the bracket. The bracket's toggle hook attachment (8) is located in an inferior, lateral, ventral position, and is used for the securing of grinder onto the bracket.

Thus, usage of the second embodiment apparatus of the invention can be employed in accordance with the following guidelines.

1. Attach a swivel concrete grinding bracket to the grinder by front metal ties and toggle hook attachment.

2. Attach the kidney-shaped head section of the swivel concrete grinding bracket (via two screws) to the concrete grinder handle.

3. Attach the safety chain attachment ring through the aligned handle and bracket hole.

A third embodiment of this invention FIG. 4 shows the concrete grinder swivel guide attachment, which is the second or optional part of the swivel concrete grinder bracket. It provides the bracket with an additional pivoting action feature for the grinding of very uneven concrete surfaces. The grinder swivel bracket guide attachment (9) is attached to the bracket by an axle in a medial, distal, posterior position, which provides the cradle with its pivoting action. The grinder swivel guide attachment FIG. 5 also has sliding leg sections (10), for working alignment adjustments. The grinder swivel guide attachment utilises wheels to assist in mobility (11).

Thus usage of the third embodiment apparatus of the invention can be employed in accordance with the following guidelines and as shown in FIG. 6.

1. Attach the grinder swivel guide attachment to the concrete grinding bracket of grinder by axial bolt for free rotation.

2. Adjust the grinder swivel guide attachment sliding leg sections for working alignment adjustments.

A fourth embodiment of this combination FIG. 7 depicts the concrete grinder handle. The concrete grinder handle interconnects with the metal dust extraction guard and concrete grinder swivel bracket, for the dustless grinding of ceilings. The concrete grinding handle consists of a long cylindrical tube (12), adapted by the provision of two exhaust chambers. The first is a smooth cylindrical inlet chamber, which is located on the lateral, superior section of the long cylindrical tube (13). The second outlet is the exhaust chamber, which is located on the inferior/lower section of the long cylindrical tube, and which may incorporate two built in lugs for the seating of a quick attachment and release hose attachment fitting (14), for the removal of dust via a vacuum machine. Located in a superior position on the concrete renovator handle is a movable head, which consists of a plaster flat box handle design (15), which facilitates movement and the necessary working alignment capabilities of the attached bracket. Located on the moveable head in a medial, lateral position is a chain ring and alignment hole (16) to connect the bracket and handle. The movable head is attached to, and is operated by a brake (17) which is located on the inferior end of the long cylindrical tube. Located at the inferior end of the handle is an external cylindrical collar (18) that serves as a hand-grip and attachment structure for the brake handle. The brake cable (19) runs internally in the long cylindrical tube and links up with the brake and moveable head to allow for the braking and stabilisation of the grinder and swivel bracket, prior to placing the tool onto the working surface.

Thus usage of the fourth embodiment apparatus of the invention FIG. 8 can be employed in accordance with the following guidelines.

1. Attach the concrete grinder handle to the concrete grinding bracket via the two screws for working height extensions.

2. Connect the safety chain attachment located on the bracket and moveable head.

3. Wrap the grinder cord around cord organiser lugs and connect to power box.

4. Attach hose to dust guard port.

5. Attach the hose and electrical cable from the vacuum to the handle and electrical cable port connections.

The productivity, working versatility, dustless capabilities and safety aspect of the concrete renovator tool make it particularly useful for workers in the building industry who undertake concrete ceiling grinding tasks. 

1. A concrete renovator tool that is primarily used in grinding ceilings, which comprises: a dustless guard with a 45° angle junction of push-on configuration for attachment to a hose, with the dustless guard being attached to the bottom ring section of the grinder by a metal clamp; a wire brush strip around the outer circumference of the dustless guard to facilitate movement over uneven concrete surfaces and provide effective dust extraction; a bracket with a kidney shaped head which houses the grinder, with the inferior end of the grinder being held in place by a toggle hook attached to the inferior ventral (lower front) section of the bracket, and the superior medial lateral section of the grinding head being secured by two metal ties that extend from the superior lateral ventral section of the bracket; a swivel bracket section attaches to the bracket in a posterior position by an axel to provide a pivoting action for the bracket and grinder when grinding uneven surfaces, with the swivel bracket having wheels as well as adjustable sliding leg sections held in place by bolts to provide working alignment; an attachment pole that consists of a long, hollow cylindrical tube, with two exhaust junctions to provide for dust extraction, the first junction inlet being located on the lateral superior section of the attachment pole, and the second junction for vacuum hose attachment located at the inferior section of the pole; a moveable head of plastering flatbox type for tool placement and working alignment on work surfaces is attached at the superior end of the attachment pole, and is operated by a brake and cable from the inferior end of the attachment pole, with the brake being attached to a cylindrical collar which also serves as a hand grip; a safety chain is fixed to the moveable head of the attachment pole and is then attached to a ring on the superior lateral dorsal section of the bracket, the safety chain ensuring that the bracket and grinder will not become dislodged from the handle; and a short hose that is attached at one end to the 45° angle junction of the dustless guard, and at the other end to the junction inlet located on the lateral superior section of the attachment pole.
 2. A concrete renovator tool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 